The co-operative sector in Brazil has presented a plan for the movement to continue to grow. The document includes legislative proposals that show the sector’s intention to actively participate in the country’s development.
“Co-operatives can drive public programmes and actions designed not only for social inclusion and access to the market, but also to providing more diversified services en areas such as health, education, transport, infrastructure, credit and all sectors in which Brazilian co-operatives act as a reference point in combining economic sustainability with productive inclusion,” said Márcio Lopes de Freitas, president of Sistema OCB, the Organisation of Brazilian Co-operatives.
The agenda includes 29 proposals for the sector, including defining an adequate tax system for co-operatives. This measure would ensure that co-operatives are not being taxed, the co-operative as juridical person and the member as a physical person. The Chamber of Deputies is currently debating this topic as part of a legislative proposal.
The document also touches upon the General Law of Co-operatives, which, according to Sistema OCB, should be adapted to the real needs of co-operatives, without a total repeal of the current legislative framework.
The agenda calls on public bodies to recognise the important social and economic contribution of co-operatives as sustainable actors able to improve social inclusion policies and generate incomes. Another action suggested to the executive by the sector is enabling access to credit and public financing for co-operatives.
The co-operative sector in Brazil includes over 2,800 co-operatives with 11.5m members and 337,000 employees. The agenda was presented during a ceremony attended by over 300 people, from key leaders from different co-operative sectors to government ministers and parliamentarians. The event also marked the inauguration of a new board for Frencoop, the Parliamentary Front of Co-operatives, which represents the sector along with OCB.
“The agenda includes some proposals that seek to ensure an enabling policy and regulatory environment for co-operatives and their members in order to bring sustainability to the sector. A strong co-operative is synonymous with economic development and social inclusion for all,” added Mr Lopes de Freitas.
Photo: Márcio Lopes de Freitas, president of Sistema OCB, the Organisation of Brazilian Co-operatives
